Ready, Set.... Jam!

While the past was grand, the future looks even brighter: formerly the IHRA President’s Cup Nationals, the newly revamped IHRA Maryland Nitro Jam still promises to be a fan favorite, now with a bigger emphasis on the entertainment and format of the event.  And the new face of the Nitro Jam makes its series debut one of the premier racing venues on the east coast- Maryland International Raceway!

Blastoff at Budds Creek

This weekend brings the annual Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship series to Maryland.  If you're checking your calendar because it doesn't seem like a year since that last rain soaked episode, that's because the Budds Creek National has been moved to an earlier date on the circuit.  Traditionally one of the closing rounds during the second half of the 12-race schedule, Budds Creek moves to round four in the middle of June.

The Lucas Oil AMA series brings the top tier of professional riders from all over the world  to compete, and the Budds Creek track offers nearly perfect visibility for spectators at numerous venues along the course. The event usually attracts more than 20,000 fans to see the best racing in the sport.

The MotoTees.com Budds Creek National kicks-off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 19.  Both the 450 and 250 classes  will be broadcast the same day on SPEED, starting with the 250 Class at 8:00 p.m. and the 450 Class at 9:00 p.m.  Live internet stream of the first motos of both classes can be seen at www.allisports.com.

St. Mary's -- Staying on Track

It was just a small announcement in a local Southern Maryland news service, but the Roman numeral was noteworthy.  Phase V of the Three Notch Trail in St. Mary's County will have its groundbreaking June 29th at a park in Mechanicsville.

Phase V?   How many segments does it take to complete a trail?

In pursuing an answer, I learned about one of the most interesting --certainly one of the most useful -- sports and recreation facilities in Southern Maryland.

The Three Notch Trail, once the rightaway for the old Southern Maryland Railroad, will stretch 28 miles when finally complete in about six years.  It extends from Hughesville in Charles County all the way to Lexington Park and the Pax River Naval Station in St. Mary's.  As communities were built around the railroad industry in the last two centuries, many town centers, schools, libraries and markets (from farmers to WalMart) are connected by this route. 

As with just about every rail trail developed in Maryland, there were NIMBY concerns that stalled early development.  It wasn't until the first one mile segment was completed four years ago that many folks realized having a community connector, exercise trail and linear park all rolled into one was a major asset and not an intrusion.

(Interestingly, the Amish were early fans of the trail.  Since it is equestrian-friendly, it provided a safer and more direct route for their buggies.)

Phase II, which is a little over two miles, was completed in 2008.  Phase III and IV are under construction now, and they are part of a public-private partnership with land developers incorporating them as amenities to the property.

Phase V, which will kickoff this month, will provide walkers and bicyclists a scenic three-mile section of trail through woodlands and open fields. This section will begin at Baggett Park and end near MD Route 5 at the Gospel Light Baptist Church. With ample parking and restrooms, Baggett Park will serve as a trail hub for travelers in both directions.

Funding for Phase V was provided by St. Mary’s County; the Federal Highway Administration (via MDOT’s Transportation Enhancement Program,) and Maryland’s Program Open Space.

Future phases (all the way to IX) will be complete -- not necessarily in contiguous order -- through 2014 and beyond, as funding becomes available.  But even in segments, the Three Notch Trail has become a visitor attraction and event venue in Southern Maryland --- and one more place I have to try.

Spinning Statewide

Historical fact:   the first bicycle arrived in Leonardtown on a steamship in 1879.  The folks in Patuxent Velo have been celebrating this historic occasion for 13 years with a professional level race through the streets of historic downtown Leonardtown. 

This year's edition of the Leonardtown Criterium will take place on Sunday, May 16th. There will be nine different races held throughout the day, including one kids race. Spectators are invited to come out and cheer from the sidelines along the Leonardtown Square as the cyclists race by.

One week later is the annual Bike Jam in Patterson Park, a favorite of pedal pushers everywhere.  Like the Leonardtown Crit, it involves professional cyclists competing for cash prizes, as well as a community festival and celebration of bicycling as a fitness regimen, recreational endeavor, and transportation alternative.  Patterson Park, in east Baltimore, is a midtown oasis just above Canton. 

Patterson Park and Canton are also competition grounds for the hilarious counter culture bicycle competition known as the Kinetic Sculpture Race, which takes place this Saturday.

Beginning at the Visionary Art Museum, the wacky array of contestants parade down Boston Street before testing their amphibious capabilities at the boat launch in Canton.  If they don't sink (lifeguards in kayaks on duty) they progress to Patterson Park for an endurance test through the mud.  The vehicle deemed most mediocre wins the competition.

(While the merits of this triathlon as a legitimate sports challenge may be questionable, it is a favorite in both the artistic and cycling communities.  Until you've seen a bicycle-powered vehicle drive off a ramp into Baltimore harbor, you haven't experienced Charm City culture.)

Of course in June, the ultra-endurance Race Across America finishes in Annapolis.   245 cycling enthusiasts will begin pedaling in a six- to nine-day bicycle race that starts in California. Over the course of their journey, they will ride 3,000 miles through 14 states.  There are even some locals competing, which you can read about in our media section.

As long as we're talking bicycles, I have to give a shout out again to Spokes, the Frederick based magazine that covers all things bicycle in the mid Atlantic region.  Spokes is behind the nascent Tour de Frederick, which will take place August 13-15. 

Spokes is a great source of calendar events about local competitions of all stripes, as it the website BikeRide.

So you can see how much enthusiasm there is in Maryland for cyclists and their contests.  So it is a good time to harness all these sources and regions to put together a mega media event that would involve the entire state (and its diverse geography) in a week-long challenge.  That's why Team Terry is holding a meeting on June 3 at 10 am at the Sheraton Annapolis on Jennifer Road for Medalist Sports to make a preliminary presentation to cycling enthusiasts, county leaders, and tourism officials about staging a Tour de Maryland.

Give Terry a buzz at (410) 767-3373 if you'd like to come.  Medalist Sports has staged premiere events all over the world.  They're the best in the business and we'd love to have them do something here.  So put June 3rd on your calendar and pedal on over.

Wheels and Water – Terry Tours St. Mary’s

Terry returned from an all day visit to St. Mary’s County, brimming with excitement about all the beautiful facilities (and potential events for them) in Southern Maryland.

This was a particularly rewarding itinerary because it included officials from the County departments of Economic Development and Recreation, eager to learn how they can parlay the resources they have into more tourism and showcase events. But that was only part of the day.

St. Mary’s County has long been the holy grail of high octane set. Within what is now billed as the “Motorsports Corridor” there is Maryland International Raceway, Potomac Speedway, and the legendary Budds Creek, which has hosted international motocross competitions.

Working its way to the starting line is another exciting venture – Tatton Park.

As currently planned, Tatton Park will feature two road courses, an off-road and rally facility, clubhouse, bike trails and a nature preserve. Tatton Park will be available to automobile clubs, and for the holding of national and regional events hosted by organizations including SCCA, NASA, SVRA and CCS Racing.

Tatton Park will also serve community and security needs as a training facility for driver education, accident avoidance and military security. It will feature off-road activities, rally cross, drifting, autocross, karting, and recreational facilities for families and spectators.

In other words, this will be a full service motorsports park in a region already revved. (I’m told the locals are still recovering from the impact of 75,000 visitors swarming Budds Creek in 2007.)

Terry had a good look at some of the superb facilities the county manages, like the Nicole skatepark (one of the best he’s ever seen) Wicomico golf course and Chapitico sports park (which boasts a BMX course as well as multi-use playing fields)

Terry visited the new Hot Shots Disc Golf Course at John G. Lancaster Park, part of the redeveloped Lexington Manor military housing. The 18-hole course sits where the old flattops used to be and offers a great space for outdoor recreation in addition to this emerging sport. Disc Golf uses plastic discs and elevated basket targets. The course at Lancaster, which opened in October, is free to the public from sunrise to sunset.

After seeing these private and public resources, Terry ventured to the College of St. Mary’s where he saw first hand the relationship between the school and the natural resources of Maryland. The sweeping shoreline of the campus offers access to the waterways of the state, which is why the small school is so renown in the sailing and rowing communities. (St. Mary’s organizes the popular Governor’s Cup regatta, an annual overnight race down the Bay from Annapolis.)

The sailing facilities are wonderful, but we have to get in a word for Terry’s special interest – the natatorium. St. Mary’s has a beautiful natatorium, as befitting a college which enjoys such a close relationship with the water.

Terry wants to express special thanks to Carolyn Laray, of Economic Development, and Phil Rollins of Recreation and Parks, who showed him so much of what the County has to offer. Shoutouts to Hans Welch and Bob Schaller who also participated in his adventure, and to those representatives from the hospitality industry who came to hear Terry tell them how important sports tourism is to the economy and how much potential Maryland has in this growing market.

St. Mary’s is a gem, for Maryland history, natural beauty, and high energy fun.Next time, invite me!

Hot "PINKS"

The weather held for the "PINKS All Out" drag race series held at Maryland International Raceway over the weekend. According to reports, thousands of fans turned out for the all day SPEED channel event.

480 drivers participated, including 20 local drivers from Southern Maryland. Larry Boswell from Mechanicsville (pictured above in his 1967 Chevy Camaro) made it to the final eight.

The competition at MIR will be featured in the September 17th episode of "PINKS All Out" at 8:00 PM on the SPEED channel.